New ONCE National Tour Hits the Road in Philadelphia Tonight

By: Jan. 15, 2016
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Beloved folk/indie blend Broadway musical ONCE will, once more, hit the road.

A new national tour of the eight-time Tony-winning musical opens tonight, January 15, in Philadelphia before traveling coast-to-coast with stops in Los Angeles, Detroit and more.

ROCK OF AGES alum Sam Cieri and Boston Conservatory student Mackenzie Lesser-Roy will lead the cast.

ONCE is the celebrated new musical based on the Academy Award-winning film. It tells the story of an Irish musician ("Guy") and a Czech immigrant ("Girl") drawn together by their shared love of music. Over the course of one fateful week, their unexpected friendship and collaboration evolves into a powerful but complicated romance, heightened by the raw emotion of the songs they create together. Brought to the stage by an award-winning team of visionary artists and featuring an ensemble cast of gifted actor/musicians, ONCE is a musical celebration of life and love: thrilling in its originality, daring in its honesty... and unforgettable in every way.

Currently planned engagements include:

Jan 15-17

Philadelphia, PA

Academy of Music

Jan 19-24

Dayton, OH

Schuster Center

Jan 25-26

Kalamazoo, MI

Miller Auditorium

Jan 28-31

New Haven, CT

Shubert Theatre

Feb 1-2

Burlington, VT

Flynn Center for the Performing Arts

Feb 4-6

New Brunswick, NJ

State Theatre

Feb 9-14

Indianapolis, IN

Clowes Memorial Hall

Feb 16

Morgantown, WV

WVU Creative Arts Center

Feb 20

Mason City, IA

North Iowa Community Auditorium

Feb 21

Cedar Falls, IA

Gallagher Bluedorn

Feb 23-24

Wausau, WI

Grand Theater

Feb 25

Green Bay, WI

Weidner Center for the Performing Arts

Feb 27-28

Sioux Falls, SD

Mary W. Sommervold Hall

Mar 8-13

Albuquerque, NM

Popejoy Hall

Mar 15-20

Los Angeles, CA

Hollywood Pantages

Mar 30-31

Columbia, SC

Koger Center for the Arts

Apr 1-3

Charlotte, NC

Belk Theater - Blumenthal PAC

Apr 5-10

Milwaukee, WI

Marcus Center for the Performing Arts

Apr 12

Easton, PA

State Theatre

Apr 14

Kitchener, ON

Centre in the Square

Apr 15-17

Detroit, MI

Fox Theatre

Apr 19-20

Bloomington, IN

Indiana University Auditorium

Apr 21

West Lafayette, IN

Elliott Hall of Music

Apr 22-24

Lexington, KY

Lexington Opera House

Apr 25

Paducah, KY

Carson Center

Apr 26

Huntington, WV

Keith Albee Theater

Apr 28

Tallahassee, FL

Donald Tucker Civic Center

Apr 29-30

The Villages, FL

The Sharon L. Morse Performing Arts Center

May 1

Orange Park, FL

Thrasher-Horne Center

May 3

Pembroke, NC

Givens Performing Arts Center

May 4

Morganton, NC

City of Morganton Municipal Auditorium

May 5-8

Newport News, VA

Ferguson Center for the Arts

May 10-15

Schenectady, NY

Proctors

May 18

Manhattan, KS

McCain Auditorium

May 20-22

Kansas City, MO

Starlight Theatre

May 24-29

Denver, CO

Denver Center for the Performing Arts

ONCE features the Academy Award-winning music and lyrics of Glen Hansard and Markéta Irglová, a book by award-winning Irish playwright & screenwriter, Enda Walsh (Penelope, Hunger, The New Electric Ballroom), direction by the acclaimed Scottish director of Black Watch, John Tiffany, movement by Steven Hoggett (Black Watch, American Idiot) and music supervision and orchestrations by Martin Lowe (Mamma Mia!). The set and costume design are by five time Tony Award winner Bob Crowley (The Coast of Utopia, Mary Poppins), lighting design is by Tony winner Natasha Katz (Aida, The Coast of Utopia), and sound design is by Clive Goodwin.

SAM CIERI (Guy) was born in Boca Raton, FL. After high school, Sam went from being a dueling piano player at The Mirage in Las Vegas to playing music in the New York City subways to pay the bills, and after a quick stint as a motorcycle salesman, he decided to come to the theatre. Most recently, Sam was seen in Rock of Ages as Drew. He is very excited to be involved in Once and would like to thank his friends and family for their love and support.

MACKENZIE LESSER-ROY (Girl) is honored to join the cast and crew of Once. Mackenzie is a NY-based actor and musician and currently a junior musical theater major at The Boston Conservatory. Regional Credits: Spring Awakening (Wendla), Sweeney Todd (Beggar Woman), The Threepenny Opera (Jenny).



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